Familiar face on Aggies sidelines no longer with department

COLLEGE STATION – One of the familiar faces of Texas A&M athletics over the past three decades is apparently no longer part of the program.

Karl Kapchinski

Karl Kapchinski has served as the Aggies’ head athletic trainer since 1982, and this morning posted on his Facebook page, “Well as I sit here this morning preparing for my day – It starts very much different than any in the last 31 years. I will be out looking for new employment. Yes, the new administration in the athletic department (has) decided that they want a different person running athletic training program and sportsmedicine.

“So I put my Hand in Gods and ask him to lead me and once again carry me. Not sure where but with him I will go.”

The timing of his firing is curious, to say the least, considering the Aggies have three regular season games and a bowl contest remaining in football. A&M athletics, under second-year athletic director Eric Hyman, has declined comment for now, citing personnel issues.

Kapchinski, an A&M graduate, had the title of assistant athletic director in charge of athletic training, and supervised 20 sports teams. According to his A&M biography, in 1999 and 2009 Kapchinski’s crew earned Athletic Training Staff of the Year awards, the highest decorations given by the Big 12 Conference to athletic trainers.

Kapchinski, who was born in Bryan and attended A&M Consolidated High, graduated from A&M in 1979. According to his athletics department bio, “Kapchinski also played an instrumental role in the planning and design of the world-class athletic training room in the Bright Football Complex, Little Sports Complex, the Cox-McFerrin Center for Aggie Basketball and the new Blue Bell Park Olsen Field Athletic Training facility.”